USB Type-A Connector Uses and Compatibility

USB Type-A connectors, officially called Standard-A connectors, are flat and rectangular in shape. Type A is the "original" USB connector and is the most recognizable and commonly used connector.

USB Type-A connectors are supported in every USB version, including USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1.

USB 3.0 Type-A connectors are often, but not always, the color blue. USB 2.0 Type-A and USB 1.1 Type-A connectors are often, but not always, black.

USB Type-A Uses

USB Type-A ports/receptacles are found on almost any modern computer-like device that can act as a USB host, including, of course, computers of all kinds including desktops, laptops, netbooks, and many tablets.

USB Type-A ports are also found on other computer-like devices like video game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, etc.), home audio/video receivers, "smart" televisions, DVRs, streaming players (Roku, etc.), DVD and Blu-ray players, and more.

Most USB Type-A plugs are found at one end of many different kinds of USB cables, each designed to connect the host device to some other device that also supports USB, usually via a different USB connector type like Micro-B or Type-B.

USB Type-A plugs are also found at the end of cables that are hard-wired into a USB device. This is typically how USB keyboards, mice, joysticks, and similar devices are designed.

Some USB devices are so small that the cable isn't necessary. In those cases, a USB Type-A plug is integrated directly into the USB device. The common flash drive is a perfect example.

USB Type-A Compatibility

The USB Type-A connectors outlined in all three USB versions share basically the same form factor. This means that the USB Type-A plug from any USB version will fit into the USB Type-A receptacle from any other USB version and vice versa.

That said, there are some significant differences between USB 3.0 Type-A connectors and those from USB 2.0 and USB 1.1.

USB 3.0 Type-A connectors have nine pins, considerably more than the four pins that make up USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 Type-A connectors. These additional pins are used to enable the faster data transfer rate found in USB 3.0 but they are placed in the connectors in a way that does not prevent them from physically working with Type-A connectors from the previous USB standards.

See the USB Physical Compatibility Chart for a graphical representation of physical compatibility between USB connectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the difference between USB Type-A and USB-C? The USB-C is newer, slimmer, and more powerful than USB-A. Also, USB-C can potentially handle higher data-transfer speeds and is versatile, with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility. Another difference is that USB-C cables are reversible, which means there's no "up" or "down" side; you can just plug them in.
• My USB-A connector isn't working. Can it be fixed? Possibly. There are a number of troubleshooting steps to try to fix a malfunctioning USB-A port or connector. Hardware fixes include checking for debris or a loose connection, or you could be experiencing a software error that requires updating your system or rebooting.
• Is USB-A going away? While USB-C is newer and more versatile, many consumers and devices still rely on USB-A cabling and connectors. USB-A isn't going anywhere for a long while.